The NBA world was thrown for a loop the day before the 2018 draft when it was reported that league insiders were told to refrain from leaking picks before they were televised.
That didn't faze ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, who worked around the wording and did so with the creativity of a college student avoiding plagiarism.
NBA DRAFT 2018: Complete list of picks in Rounds 1 and 2
Woj bombs fell on the Twittersphere before almost every pick, delivered with a sense of humor not typically seen in Woj's tweets. As was the case Thursday, some picks were better than others, and some tweets stood out more.
A complete ranking of Woj's pick-related tweets from Thursday night's first round:
20-19. Dzanan Musa, Jacob Evans
The last picks Wojnarowski tweeted before the end of the first round, after all the madness.
Source: Brooklyn will select Dzanan Musa.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
18. Jaren Jackson Jr.
This pick came between Luka Doncic (third overall) and Trae Young (fifth overall), and Woj was still getting settled in.
Memphis is locked in on selecting Jaren Jackson Jr., league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018
17. Mo Bamba
Here we go. The first tiptoe around the rules, but it still pales in comparison to what's about to come.
Orlando is focused on selecting Texas center Mo Bamba with the sixth pick, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 21, 2018
16-13. Mikal Bridges, Collin Sexton, Wendell Carter, Kevin Knox
By this point it's clear that Woj has done his research — research of the thesaurus, that is. Woj has established that he's bending, not breaking, the rules.
Sources: Sixers are targeting Villanova's Mikal Bridges with No. 10.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Source: Cleveland prefers Collin Sexton with the No. 8 pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Chicago is zeroing in on Wendell Carter with the seventh overall pick, league sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Sources: New York has been focused on Kentucky's Kevin Knox with ninth pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
12. Michael Porter Jr.
Nothing makes a draft prospect more comfortable than the fact that the franchise to which he's headed has cleared the way for him to be picked.
Source: Denver has cleared the way to choose Michael Porter Jr. with the 14h pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
11-6. Kevin Huerter, Zhaire Smith, Troy Brown, Lonnie Walker, Chandler Hutchinson, Aaron Holiday
Anyone who has ever had to submit a paper to turnitin.com will understand.
ESPN: "You're not allowed to directly say who the next pick is going to be before we announce it."
Woj:
Atlanta has zeroed in on Maryland's Kevin Huerter with the 19 pick, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Phoenix is determined to select Zhaire Smith with 16.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Washington is locked on Troy Brown with the 15th pick, league source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
The Spurs are fixated on Lonnie Walker with the 18th pick, source tells ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Source: Bulls are on Boise State's Chandler Hutchison. He was shut down in workouts with Chicago promise.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Source: Pacers are focused on Aaron Holiday at 23.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
5-4. Robert Williams, Landry Shamet
Credit Woj for going the extra mile in the latter stages of the first round. He continues to come up with adjectives that endear him to us even more.
Source: Boston is tantalized by Robert Williams with the 27th pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
Source: The Sixers are enamored with Landry Shamut at the 26th pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
3. Grayson Allen
YES, WOJ!
Source: Utah Jazz have no plans to pass on Grayson Allen with the 21st pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
2. Anfernee Simons
THE MAN SAID "LASER."
Source: Portland has a laser on Anfernee Simons.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018
1. Moritz Wagner
We can't resist you either, Woj. Thanks for a great night.
Source: The Lakers are unlikely to resist Mo Wagner with the 25th pick.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) June 22, 2018